DFDS Seaways also faced disruption with The Princess Seaways delayed and The King Seaways significantly delayed.

But, other than transport chaos, the North East avoided the strong winds, which killed two men, a woman and a teenager.

The 17-year-old girl was killed in Hever, Kent, when hurricane-force conditions blew a tree on to the caravan where she was sleeping at 7.18am. Kent Police said emergency services attended the scene but were unable to save the girl.

A man in his 50s was also pronounced dead at the scene after a tree crushed a red Peugeot 307 at Lower High Street in Watford, Hertfordshire, at 6.50am yesterday. And a man and a woman died in west London after a falling tree caused a suspected gas explosion and house collapse. The Met Office said a gust of 99mph wind was recorded at Needles Old Battery, Isle of Wight, at 5am.

Around 625,000 homes were without power, while rail services across much of southern Britain have been cancelled as high winds brought down trees. Network Rail said the damage was “worse than expected,” while 130 flights have been cancelled at Heathrow airport.

The Environment Agency issued 12 flood warnings in South West England, East Anglia and the Midlands.

Forecasters said the storm was now over but windy conditions would remain.

In the North East, the weather today was expected to remain cloudy but with wind and rain easing into the afternoon.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “There will still be a few showers but winds will ease and showers will become lighter and fewer with longer spells of sunshine developing for most.”

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